Inquiry into the Native Title Amendment Bill 2006

Information about the inquiry

On 7 December 2006, the Senate referred the provisions of the above Bill to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 23 February 2007. The Bill focuses largely on the framework for determining native title claims and seeks to improve:

• the effectiveness of representative Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bodies;
• coordination and communication between the Federal Court and the National Native Title Tribunal;
• the effectiveness of Native Title Tribunal mediation; and
• the functioning of prescribed bodies corporate (the bodies established to manage native title once it is recognised).

Lodging Submissions

Submissions are called for by 19 January 2007. Submissions become Committee documents and are only made public after a decision by the Committee. Unauthorised release of submissions is not covered by parliamentary privilege. Further assistance can be obtained by phoning the secretariat on (02) 6277 3560.

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3560
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5794
Email:	legcon.sen@aph.gov.au